Toronto journalist harrassed by anti-Peres demonstrators — and the local police. Must be Tuesday…

In an expletive-laced rant, anti-Israel activist Jenny Peto instructed the group’s spokesperson not to speak to our reporter, and a large woman persistently attempted to physically block our videographer’s camera.

Despite clearly identifying themselves as journalists, one officer gripped the videographer’s arm and made him leave, and another firmly insisted that our reporter leave without allowing her time to ascertain the safest route from the scene.

Although police forced the Tribune’s journalists to leave the protesters’ side of the street, they permitted several protesters to cross the street to continue their harassment.

On the sidewalk directly in front of the Sony Centre, protesters stood behind and beside our reporter and raised their signs in a deliberate attempt to stop our videographer from taping her. Not one police officer intervened.

The Toronto PD are your go-to guys if you want a fetching police escort for the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid float in the Pride Parade, but they don’t otherwise seem to perform any useful function.